HARRISBURG, Pa., May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding today urged restaurants across the state to be on guard against a potential scam in which an unidentified caller claims to be a health inspector and asks for business information.

Redding said the caller is not a licensed agent of the state or any county. He also reminded restaurants that inspections by the state Department of Agriculture's food sanitarians are always unannounced. Upon arrival, sanitarians will identify themselves and show proper identification, including a commonwealth employee photo identification card and food sanitarian badge.

"We appreciate the counties coming forward to report these incidents to the department," said Redding. "It is critical that if a restaurant is contacted by someone claiming to be a health inspector who seems suspicious, restaurant personnel contact local law enforcement."

The Department of Agriculture has received several reports of calls received by restaurants in Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Montgomery and York counties. Other states, most recently Indiana, have also reported incidents similar to those reported in Pennsylvania.